South Bend fire station's proposed location draws concerns

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - The proposed spot for a new fire station near South Bend's zoo is drawing concerns from a newly formed community group.

Members of "Protect Potawatomi Park" have created an online petition that demands other possible locations for the fire station be considered, the South Bend Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/1U8ZOXT). The group's concerns include losing parkland and that station noise would disturb people in the park and animals at Potawatomi Zoo.

The online petition is addressed to South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the city council, parks director and fire chief.

For more than 10 years, the city has scouted locations for building a new fire station No. 9. The current station was constructed in the 1920s and is outdated.

The park is considered a good site for the station because it's centrally located in the fire district and close to another park that has a boat launch for water rescues. The district includes the Indiana University South Bend campus.

Buttigieg spokeswoman Kara Kelly said city officials are "still evaluating the feasibility" of building the new fire station at the Potawatomi Park site.

"Our primary concern is public safety, and we are working to balance this with other goals for our parks," Kelly said.

Ruth Warren, a founding member of the opposition group, said members support construction of a new station, "just not in the park."

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Information from: South Bend Tribune, http://www.southbendtribune.com